Baseball team falls to arch rival Cookeville 9-5

The White County Baseball team fell to arch rival Cookeville 9-5 Thursday night in Cumberland County.
“We have got to stop letting things that we can’t control dictate the game,” head coach Shaun Floyd said. “We’ve got to sure some things up, we’ve got to learn that we can win. We can win, we just have to believe.”
The Cavaliers led the Warriors led 2-0 going into the bottom of the fourth. WCHS was forced to take out starter Darin Cole due to injury after only two and one-thirds inning.
Cole gave up two runs on four hits and striking out one. One of the hits given up was a solo home run to Jacon Edgington in the bottom half of the second.
The big blow for the Warriors came in the bottom of the fourth when Cookeville put up a seven spot on the board. Sparta fell behind 9-0.
WCHS was able to put a rally together starting in the top of the fifth.
Darin Cole started the rally by hitting a one-out single into right field. He advanced to second when Joseph Stockton reached on an error by the CHS shortstop, which was followed by a single into left field by Ethan Roberts to load the bases.
With the bases loaded, Jalon Foster drove in the Warriors first run of the game on a sacrifice fly. Not only did Cole score from third, but the other two baserunners were able to advance a base as well.
Jake Young continued to stay hot as he hit an opposite field two-run double, putting the score at 9-3.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, that is where the rally would end. Blake Lynn singled up the middle moving the courtesy runner Colton Hudgens to third, but Hudgens was thrown out at home on the next play to end the inning.
WCHS was able to keep the Cookeville bats silent for the remainder of the game, but could only pull out two more runs to finish the game. Both runs came in the top of the seventh.
Austin Glenn drove in Roberts on a single after he led off the inning with a single into right, and Foster was walked.
Allen Newport drove in pinch-runner Logan Swope on the very next pitch, putting the score at 9-5.
Tyler Qualls singled to center to load the bases, but the two-out rally was ended when Cole flew out to center to end the game.
“I’m proud of them for never giving up,” Floyd said. “We’ve just got to learn to get that killer instinct, and to come to the ballpark and take care of business.”
After Darin Cole came out, the pitching staff was touched up a little bit, but Floyd was still full of confidence in his pitchers.
“I feel like I can throw anybody out there and we have a chance to win,” Floyd said. “It just comes down to that we have to execute.”
The Warriors will look to bounce back and snap their five-game losing skid on Friday. They have a double-header with Game one against Rhea County and game two against Cumberland County.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” Floyd said. “That’s what makes baseball great. A new day tomorrow with a new start, and I believe in my guys.”